Sheet metal bending brake for making s-clips



April 18, 1950 B. R. ALLEN SHEET METAL BENDING BRAKE EoR MAKING s-CLIPs Filed Deo. 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q W Em Inventor April 18, 1950 B. R. ALLEN 2,504,782

SHEET METAL BENDING BRAKE FOR MAKING S-CLIPS Filed Deo. 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

27 l0 Inventor -Burr/'s R. Allen l tu; lf/5 v s I By wig/@73mm Patented Apr. 18, 1959 ascisse viJNrfrfn stares rarer ortica SHEET`ME'I'AL` BENDING BRAKE FOR MAKING SLCLIPS Burrisy R. Allen, Detroit', Mich.

Application December 9, 1947, Serial No. '790;558

I0 -Claims. i:

The present invention*'re-lates` tir-*certain new 'andi useful improvements inaportable khand-Loperated sheet metal bending brake which',A While usefulV for bendingv and formingY--otheiarticles,

isespecially adaptedto shape-'and form' so-called VSv-clips such as are usedl'inconnection with air yduct constructionsA andA otherinstailations in air conditioningsystems.

One object of thefinventiony is to provide a sheet metal bending machine of the kin'dp-al11ovev .cfstock.may be readily placedinposition in the principal work. holding member, oscillated. or rocked in one direction, then swung bac-le toits originalposition, duringwhich steps the bending' i" results are obtained-and after which said stock, inV the form of thev con'xpleted S-clip, may be quickly lifted, by'hand, fromy said worky holding member.'

A further-object ofv the invention-iste struc- 5;

turally, functionally, and otherwise improve-upon sheet tin bending'andfforming brakes ythrough the adoption andV use-'of a-simple'V frame, said frame oeing .providediwith three spaced parallel,

horizontally disposed bars',- the; latterA being mounted for oscillationrinbearings inthe frame and being rocked toward-` and from each other by positive and 'suitably ltimed gearingV in .amanner to successively' and progressively bend one*l edge ofthe stripV stockt duringthe rstr step and to then reversely bend'thezother edgezofn thesarne strip uponcompletingthesecond step;

Otherl objects and advantages willbecome-more .readily apparent fromA the `:following description; i and the-,accompanying illustrative: .drawingsL A In the drawings'whereinlikenumerals are employed to designate vlike parts throughout the views::l

Figurev 1 is .a planv viewoiasheet metaibending brake'constructed:in accordance with, the present invention-.gl

Figure Z'isla;rightend-.elevation of the-showing ofzFigureL Figure 3 is a. .fra-gmenztaryftc:rossr.sectional'viewV 2 illustrating the= parts-in thefpositions assumed at the first stage of operation*- Figure llis a cross section taken on: line 4 4 of Figure l, like-Figure-.'but showing the coact- -ing parts in the relative positions assumed inathe second stage of operation-,Lthatiis;.the .first bending step;

Figure-5 is a crossfseciional View. which` appears the same as Figure-V31except,y at this third stage, the second bending` step, which .serves to finish the S-clip, is completed;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view'on the line 5"'-5 "of'Figure 5;- looking vini the direction of the'arro'ws.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective View showing afinished'so-called S-clip.`

Briefly, my-` 'noveli vSiclip brake` is: characterized by twov vertical frame members: or: uprightshavving bearings in which'.A the shaft-en'dsof three simple bars arejournaled'for rotation.` .All'of the hars'- are suspended in substantially. the same plane'in close'spaceds'parallelism. Three identical gears provide aasimplezgearf'train. and are lined' upv in contact'withfthe exteriorfside` of .one frame member, arexed on the respective three journalsor'Stub-sh'aftsrat thisfend of the structure and these gears'are :intl'retsame'` plane and subst'antially` level'crwith said bai-sz Arsinglehandie is attached to onefjourn'afl and-is swung rst away from the'op'eratoreandithen immediatelyreturned to its" startingzp'osition and this is'ail' that is necessary -to f accomplish: the', complete two-way vbending andv foldin'gf result. Toiattain this; reliable facilities; or suitahle'isliapes` and in timely ordered positions, aref: provided? on said bars. rlhus, two uprights; three' bars; three gears, a single handle andysimplelexpedients on said. bars serve to fprovide:` afsimpe; economic alv 'and t practicai special purposefb ending vibrake'.:

Themachine is.-rsupportedby,` ai simple portable frame which embodies"T a pair ofiv rectangular Y plateszorfuprig'hts' ii'fand'L It;l Mounted-in suitable bearings in the-leftiliand upright :9 are stub shafts il; lzfand i3 carryingintermeshinggearsri4. At the opposite endfofthe structure'vthef upright i0 is movi'dedy withstubzshaits l 5; l 5;' andA 'i l" geared together byicoactin'g gears I8."v ahandle flii is securely xedt'o the extendingr-..end' portion ofthe stub shaft Iland constitutes Athe-soiezpart vfor simultaneously 'operatingfall :of the stub sh afts and gear trains.k

The principal-"Work holdingfunit or part may be" convenientl'ys identified: as` a.. workk holding, turning: andi: formingfmandrelfcrfbarxli'.; This, is

' polygonal f inI cross: sectional". form4 and'.vv hasione surface or face 2l cut laway and beveled to provide for clearance in a manner to be hereinafter described. Another face of said bar is rabbeted or grooved as at 22 to accommodate a retention plate 23 for the sheet of tin .or other work-piece 26. The plate 23 coacts with the groove in defining a pocket fora one-third portion of the flat sheet of metal which is to be bent. A cleat 25 is screwed or otherwise fastened to the grooved side of the bar 2i) and constitutes a forming shoulder which is cooperable with an associable corner notch '26 provided in the complemental bending and clenching bar 2l. The effective clenching surface or face of said bar 2? is denoted by the numeral 28 and another surface is provided with suitably mounted safety clips or vbrackets `2S which serve in preventing displacement of the completely bent S-clip during the operational steps necessary in turning, bending and clenching to final shape. The bar 2l, like the bar 2B, is sub- 'stantially polygonal in cross sectional form and is in spaced parallelism to said bar 26. Y Attention is now directed to a third oscillatory rocker bar, the same denoted by the numeral 30. This is a square in cross sectional form and is mounted for -oscillation between coacting stub-shafts I3 and l1, as brought out in Figure l. One face of the bar 30 is provided vwith abending, clenching and folding blade 3l which is fastened in place by screws or the like 32`and spacing washers 33. The free swingable edge portion of the blade is beveled and thus sharpened, as at 34. j

y In'operation the respective oscillatory bars are in the horizontal positions shown in Figure 3. At

Vthis time the handle or lever I9 is to the left and all bars are geared together for simultaneous and sequential operation; that is, operation in suc- Vcessive as well as progressively sequential steps.

With the machine set up for use as shown in Figure 3 the work, Va rectangular sheet of bendable tin 24 is inserted in the retention pocket formed by the groove 22 and holding and forming Yplate 23. Approximately one third of the area of the work is thus inserted to take the perpendicular position shown in Figure 3. The lever I is swung in a direction from left to right until it Vtakes the position seen in Figure 4. In the latter position, which is the second stage, the first fbending step is' accomplished. The blade 3l moves around approximately one half-circle (slightly less than 180 degrees) and at the same time the bar moves in a half-circle in an opposite direction, the two parts approaching each other and thus taking the Vpositions shown progressively in Figures and 4. When the free edge portion of the work sheet 24 swings through the path of movement of the bending and clenching blade 3 l, the latter serves to turn a predetermined portion over the forming edge Vof the plate 23 and I when the parts come to rest, as shown inFigure 4, a U-bend is thus formed in the work. Then,

bymoving the handle i9 back to its original position operates the gears and oscillatory bars to first form a U-bend along one edge of a rectangular strip, and moving the handle back to its original starting position, through the gears and bars,

f servesto form a. return` bendin an opposite direction, thus producing with expediency and efflciency the clip illustrated partly in Figure 7. These clips are bent in al1 sorts of ways in the trade as of today but I fmd that by having a simple triple bar frame structure with gears and handle and properly shaping the coacting surfaces of the bars and bringing them into relationship under suitably established principles, an effective turning and bending brake is thus provided.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials or rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed. Y

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: Y

l. An S-clip making brake of the ,class described comprising a frame structure vembodying a pair of spaced parallel end members forming uprights, a plurality of spaced parallel bars mounted for oscillatory movements between said uprights, said bars having journal forming stub-shafts at their ends mounted for operationv in bearings in the uprights, said stub-shafts beingprovidedfwith intermeshing gears, and anoperating handle for one of the stub-shafts for simultaneously turning all gears and rocking the bars back and forth, there being threel such bars, the central bar constituting a work holding, turningrand forming mandrel, one of the outer b ars serving to bend and clench a bendable free edge portion` of the work against a predetermined surface ofthe mandrel for purposes of defining a U-bend, the remaining bar serving to coact with the remaining bendable edge portion o f the work for purposes of defining a returnbend vopposite tothe first bend, whereby to define an S-shaped piece of work.

2. In an S-clip bending brake of the class described, a. pair of relatively stationary uprights, an oscillatory work holding and forming bar mounted for operation between said uprights, said bar being provided on one side witha pocket for reception of an edge portion of the work to be held and bent, being provided on the same side with a longitudinally extending outstanding forming shoulder, the edge portion of the pocket also constituting axforming shoulder, a second oscillatory bar mounted in spaced parallelism between the uprights and alongside of the first bar and provided with a rigid work bending blade engageable with a bendable free edge portion of the work in a manner to form a YU-shaped bend in the latter, a third bar mounted for oscillation between the uprights and-on an opposite side of irst named bar, said third-bar serving to engage the remaining free edge portion of the Vwork in a manner to transform sameiinto a second U-shaped bend reversed in.;position to said first U-shaped bend, all three of 'saidfbars being geared together for simultaneousfad progressive oscillatory coaction, and a single operating handle for alternately turning theV .gears back and forth through substantially semi-circular paths for purposes of progressively bending said edge portions of the work, whereby'to provide a double Ibent workpiece which is substantially S-shaped incross sectionalform.

3;. Astwofeway bending; `reversesfolding-r;bit-allie for; transforming af. dat;` work pieces intoxv an: S;- clinl of fthe.- .classz shown., and; described compris.- ing a: relativelyf stationary-f framey embodying spaced; paralleluprights; a; horizontally-disposed forming.; bar` suspended andmountedfor oscillation ,between rsa-id, iuprights; saidfbar.: having a lengthwise pocket into which one edge-ofy said work; pieceV is placed Aedgewise kandgheld so that said: work piece-may be rockedand swung'lgzzrst in Vone direction and 1 then alternately fin-f an: op.-

posite direction, one longitudinal edgefportioneof saidpocket constitutingsacreasing member-sto forma bightvin that edge:portionoffthework piece projecting beyondv said pocket, f a# gear fixed onV one: end' of'said forming bar., aiiirststage bending; folding and pressure bar'also :mounted horizontally for oscillation .betweenisaid'uprights and" situated in parallelismy outwardly" off"` said forming. bar; a. pressure applying and; foldingr ward and from the latterand functioning to;

form a second bight, opposite from the* first named bight, and to yreversely fashionand'produce the remaining'fold of said 'Work-piece," and a third 'gea-r, the latter xed'on said secondlpressure bar and in mesh with said first named gear.

4. A two-way bending, reverse folding, brake for transforming a atwork piece'into-any Sf-clip of the class showni and described comprising'v-a relatively stationaryI frame embodying spaced parallel uprights, a horizontally disposed forming bar suspended and mounted for oscillation between said uprights, said .bar having a lengthwise pocket into which oneedgefofffsaidzwork piece is placed-edgewise;l and held so that said lwork piece `may be rocked vand swung iirst in one direction and then alternately in anopposite direction, one vlongitudinal edge portion of said pocket constitutinga creasing membergtotform a Ybight in that edge portionoit'the workjpiece prjectingbeyond said'pocket, a' gear xedion one" end of said forming bar," a'f'rstgstage'bending, folding and pressure bar also; mountedfhori- .zontally for oscillation' betweengsaid uprightsand situatedv in parallelism outwardly of said;forin- .ing bar, a .pressure yapplyingand folding',bla-de#4 s carried by said'pressure bar and swingable toward and then awaysfrompthe pocket to fashion and .produce the rst fold of the work piece, a gear hxedon said pressure bar and iniconstant mesh.. with, saidl first-named gear, a secondhori- 5. A two-way bending reverse folding brake for transforming a dat work piece into an S- clip of the class shown and described comprising a relatively stationary frame embodying spacedjlparallel'auprights;athorizontally: disposed formingubarfsuspended,` and` mounted for oscillation between .said uprights, saidbarl having a lengthwise pocket into whichone edgeaof said Y: work pieceiisfplaced' edgewiseand held' so `that said worki .piecey may "be rocked and swungf iirst inionedi'rection` and vthenl alternately; in' an opposite-direction, one longitudinal edgefportion of said pocket constituting aacreasing member to .-'formra bightinthat edgeportion of; thework Vfandsituated in parallelismv outwardly of. said forming: bar, a pressure f applying and'V folding bladecarriedv lby said pressure bar and swingable toward.' and thenaway from the pocket to fashion and-"producethe irst/foldA of thework piece, .a

gear fixed on saidlpressure bar and in. constant mesh'v with said first-named gear, a secondV horizontally disposed' pressure applying `and `foldir-ig barmountedfor oscillation between saiduprights andsituatedin parallelism on `the'other side of said work holdingvand formingbar, movable towardy and" from the latter and; functioning to form a second bight opposite from the firstnamed=`bightandto reversely fashion' and 4pro-- duce `the remaining foldfof said ',work. piece, and athird gear, the latter xed'on saidsecond pressure barand in mesh with said rst-'narned gear, allfof said bars beingpolygonal in cross-section and disposed in substantiallythe-` same plane.

6; A' two-wayfbending reverse vfolding brake for-transforming a 'at work piece into an S-clip ofj'the=v class vshown' and described comprising a relativelyl stationary fra-meembodying spaced parallel uprights, alhorizontally. disposed forming-bar suspended'and mounted for oscillation vbetween saidiuprights, said bar-having a lengthwise-'pocket into-A which one edge of said work piece isplacedfedgewiseand held so that said work# piecefmay be rockedV and-swungv nrstin one directionfand then alternately in an opposite direction, one longitudinal edge Vportion of said pocket constituting accreasingy member to for-ma bightin that-edge portion ofthe work pieceprojecting-beyond"said pocket, a gear xed on one-'endoffsaid forming bar, a irst stage bending, foldingandpressure bar also mounted `vabletoward yand then away from the pocket to fashionyandl produce therst fold of the work piece;` al'gear fixed on Ysaid pressure bar and in constant-mesh with saidi'lrst-named gear, a second horizontally disposed; pressure applying and 'folding-bar mountedy for oscillation between said y:uprights andsituated in parallelism' on `the other side of said work holding and forming bar, movable toward and from the latter and functioning to form a second bight opposite from the first-named bight and to reversely fashion and produce the remaining fold of said work piece, and a third gear, the latter fixed on said second pressure bar and in mesh with said first-namedv gear, all of said bars being polygonal in crosssection and disposed in substantially the same plane, and all three of said gears being of iden-- tical construction, aligned and disposed on a level approximately in the plane of said bars.

7. The structure defined in claim 6, tog-ether. with brackets carried by said second pressure and folding barconstltuting fingers adapted to reach over the work piece at the finish of said second folding step to prevent displacement'ofsaid Work piece from said pocket.

8. A two-way bending reverse folding brake for :transforming a fiat work piece into an S-clip of Vthe class shown and described .comprising a relatively stationary frame'embodying spaced parallel uprights, a horizontally disposed forming bar .suspended land mounted for oscillationV between said uprights, saidbar having a 'lengthwise pocket into which one edge of said work piece is placed edgewise and held so `that said work piece may Vbelroclred and swung first in one direction and then alternately in an opposite direction, one

Vlongitudinal edge portion of said pocket constituting a creasing member to form a bight in .that edge portion of the workpiece projecting beyond said pocket, a gear fixed on .one end of `said forming bar, a first stage bending, folding and pressure bar also mounted horizontally for voscillation between said uprights and situated in parallelism outwardly of said forming bar, a pressure applying and folding blade carried by said pressure bar and swingable toward and then away from the pocket to fashion and produce the first fold of the work piece, a gear fixed on said pressure bar and in constant mesh with said .first-named gear, a second horizontally disposed opposite from the first-named bight and to re-v versely fashion and produce the remaining fold ofV said work piece,.and a third gear, the latter fixed on said second pressure bar and in mesh with said first-named gear, all of said bars being polygonal in cross-section and disposed in sub- ,l stantially the same plane, and a single handle directly associated with said second-named gear for operating all three gears in a manner to rock said bar in predetermined directions and progressive order. 'i l 9. A two-way bending reverse folding brake for? .transforming a flat rectangular work piece into an S-clip of the style shown and described comaprising a pair of spaced parallel end members, .three bars having end journals mounted forI oscillation in'bearings provided therefor in said end members, all of said bars beingA on the same level and polygonal in cross-section, a train of .three aligned timing and` bar rocking gears located exteriorly of and in contact with one of said end members and secured to corresponding journals on the respectivethree bars, all of said gears being identical, disposed in the same hori- 1 zontal plane and in substantially the same plane voccupied by said bars, a handle rigidly mounted ,60

on one of said journals adjacent to but clear of -flle of this patent:

piece holding and formingfacilities, andtwo successively functioning side' bars, and means on the latter two bars for applying pressure and progressively and' reversably 'bending the alternately disposable folds of said work piece.

10. A two-way bending reverse folding brake for transforming a flat rectangular workpiece into an S-clip of the style shown and described comprising a pair of spaced parallel end members, three bars having end journals'mounted for oscillation in bearings provided therefor in said end members'all of said bars being on the same level and polygonal in cross-section, a train of three aligned timing and bar rocking gears located exteriorly of and in contact with one of said end members and secured to corresponding journals on the respective three bars, all of said gears being identical, disposed in the same horizontal plane and in substantially the same plane occupied by said bars, a handle rigidly mounted on one of said journals adjacent to but clear of said gears, there being a main central bar and vtwo auxiliary side bars, said central bar having one face rabbeted, a plate mounted on said latter bar and parallel with said rabbet and co-acting with the latter in defining a work piece holding pocket and a shoulder, the free edge portion of said plate constituting a crease former, the body portion of said plate constituting a fold former, a blade mounted on one of said side bars and geared to swing toward said central bar as the latter approaches it to bend the worl: piece and force it against said plate to provide the first fold, said second side bar being geared and timed to engage the Work piece as the main bar swings back to its starting position to bend and fashion the second, a reversely disposed, fold.

BURRIS R. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany June 9, 1932 

